Improvement in seal-locks



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Saai-Locks. N0.153,754. Y Patented-Aug. 4,1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. oEAET, 0E DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEAL-LOCKS.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 153,754, dated August 4, 1874; application led February 16, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. CRAFT, of Detroit, in the county ofv Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented an Improvement in Seal-Locks, of which the following is a speciication:

The nature of this invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of that class of locks usually denominated seal-locks, designed to lock freight-cars in such a manner that if the car is opened at any point before arriving at its destination such opening can be at once detected.

The object of this invention is to furnish fully as secure a lock for the purpose as any in use, and at a small moiety of their cost.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved lock ready for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same in use. Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the indicating-Washer.

Like letters indicate like parts in each iigure.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a rigid bar of metal, either cast or Wrought, as preferred, and, for all ordinary purposes, need not be more than two inches in length. C is a strip of thin tleXble metal secured at one end, by a rivet, a, to one end of the bar A. When in use, the strip C is passed through the staple B, over which the hasp D has been placed, and the eyelet b, which is rigidly secured to the free end ofthe strip C, is inserted through the hole d in the bar. The label E is rigidly securedv to the bar A immediately over the hole d, and the eyelet is then inserted through said hole, and an ordinary pair of eyelet-pinchers may be employed to securev the whole together. This label may1 be of any suitable material, and should be printed, stamped, or engraved with the name of the station at which the car is loaded, and, in addition, may have the initials of the company upon Whose line the car is loaded and shipped. When it is desirable to remove the lock, it is detached by striking and breaking it.

As it is the duty of agents of the railroad companies to examine all the locks upon a freight-train at every station Where such train stops, should any car have been surreptitiously or accidentally opened the fact is not only atonce detected, but the points at or between which such opening has taken place can at once be determined.

It Will readily be seen that the cost of this lock is so small that it can be 'furnished at a small moiety of the cost of those in ordinary use.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A seal-lock for railway-cars, consisting of the rigid barA and iexible strip C, secured together by means of the eyelet b, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the rigid bar A,flexi ble strip C, label E, and eyelet `b, when the parts are constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes specitied.

THOMAS J. CRAFT. Witnesses:

H. S. SPEAGUE, WM. P. SPALDING. 

